March Sales Record Setters
April 03, 2007

March sales in total were no recordbreaker, but that didn’t stop some automakers from setting records.

So far, Toyota, Honda, Porsche, Audi and Mazda have set new records of various sorts.

Toyota takes home the most “bests” for the month in a wide number of categories, from overall to individual models.

Honda, Audi and Mazda continue to be on a roll. Same for Porsche.

Toyota sets numerous records

Toyota wins the prize of the most number of records for March 2007.

Combining sales from all of its divisions, Toyota reported an all-time, best-ever monthly sales record of 242,675 vehicles for an increase of 7.7% over March 2006.

Toyota Division posted its best-ever March sales of 121,881, up 13.6% from a year ago. Likewise, the Lexus Division reported its best-ever March sales of 28,855 units. The all-new LS 460 is off to a great start with March sales of 3,134, an increase of 125.4%.

Toyota said its cumulative hybrid sales surpassed the 500,000 sales mark in March, with Prius leading the charge. The Prius posted an all-time, best-ever monthly sales record for the second consecutive month. Toyota is offering incentives on the Prius. In addition, the federal tax rebate of $1,575 dropped to $788 April 1. Combined, Edmunds.com’s analysis calculated the Prius True Market Value at $21,296 in March, down from $3,284 in December. The incentives and rebate expiration likely drove customers to the Prius, which had sales of 19,156, an increase of 133.2%.

The aging Corolla also had its best-ever March with 34,355, up 2.5%. And Toyota’s light trucks set an all-time, best-ever month of sales with 91,939, up 2.9%. They were led by the RAV4, which had its all-time, best-ever month of 17,837, up 27.5%. Sales of the just-introduced Tundra pickup rose 7.8%

“This month marks a milestone eight years in the making," said Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor Sales executive vice president.

Honda: A record March

Honda achieved its best March ever with Honda and Acura vehicles posting a 7.3% increase over year-ago numbers. It was Honda's third-best month in history.

March saw record Honda sales in both car and light-truck segments with car sales surpassing the March 1996 record of 80,117. The Honda Division posted its best ever March and a record March for Accord, CR-V and Pilot.

Year-to-date Honda total vehicle sales of 354,208 increased 3.3 percent. "We are on track for another record year in 2007,” said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda, in a statement.

Audi: Another monthly record

Audi has been on a roll and it continued in March, when the German marque sets a new March sales record of 8,020 vehicles, 14.7% more than March 2006.

So far in 2007, Audi has sold 21,028 vehicles, a 17.6% increase over year ago figures. “Our strong first quarter results are a continuation of what we saw in the final quarter of 2006,” said Johan de Nysschen, Executive Vice President of Audi of America, Inc., in a statement. 

Porsche: Best March, Best 911 Month

Porsche announced its best-ever March sales of 3,278, a 3% increase over last March, which had held the previous record. Of this year’s total, Porsche sold 1,363 copies of the 911, the most in history for a single month.

Mazda: Best March in 13 years

Mazda, with a host of new models in its line, continues its momentum, reporting its best-ever March in North America.

Sales in the U.S., Canada and Mexico totaled 47,206 vehicles, beating Mazda’s previous March record of 45,892 set back in 1994. The U.S. celebrated its best March since 1994 with sales of 37,742, up 47.9% from a year ago, while Mazda Canada, Inc. reported its best-ever March with sales of 8,108 units, up 16%. Not to be outdone by Mazda Motor de Mexico, which reported its best- ever month with sales of 1,356 units, for a 182.5% increase.

“We're hitting our stride as we head into the crucial spring selling season," said Jim O'Sullivan, Mazda’s North American president and CEO, in a statement. "Our record-breaking sales month for North America proves that we're offering the right vehicles at the right price, driving customers into our showrooms in the U.S., Canada and
Mexico."

Mazda's U.S. sales were led in volume by its popular Mazda3, which reported best-ever sales of 15,606, while the Mazda6 also celebrated its best-ever month with sales of 9,624 units. The CX-9 seven passenger crossover SUV reported its best month since launch with 2,443 units. The MX-5 Miata posted its best month since March 1997 with sales of 2,281 units.

Posted by Michelle Krebs at 11:21 AM under Analysis , Companies , News , Toyota | Comments (1) | digg this | Seed Newsvine